Exercising is a great way to lose fat, build muscle and boost your mental and physical health. While there are multiple benefits to exercising, what you eat plays a major role too. With many people looking to get fitter and shed those pounds after lockdown, so is the demand for convenient and healthy snacks like Biltong.
What is Biltong?
It’s likely you’ve already heard about Biltong, or even seen it down the aisles of your local supermarket, but what is this high protein snack taking the world by storm? Believe it or not, Biltong isn’t anything new. It’s actually a 400-year-old snack originating from Southern Africa. Various meats can be used to produce it, ranging from Beef and Game but you’ll most commonly find it in Beef form.
Biltong is made by marinating premium grass-fed beef in a mixture of herbs, spices, and vinegar, it is then hung up to air dry before being sliced into strips. Find out more about what is biltong here.
Sounds a lot like Beef Jerky, are they the same?
As a consumer, you’re probably thinking that Biltong sounds very similar to Beef Jerky, and while they do share visual similarities the two couldn’t be any more different.
For starters Jerky and Biltong come from different parts of the world – Beef Jerky originated in South America whereas Beef Biltong originated in Southern Africa. Beef Jerky and Beef Biltong are also made in different ways too.
Beef Jerky is made by separating meat from the bone, stripping it of fat and adding a large amount of salt and sugar to it. It’s cured by injecting the meat with a curing solution or marinating it in the solution before being tenderised, cut into strips, heated, and dried. In comparison Biltong is made by marinating premium grass-fed beef in natural spices and vinegar and is then hung up to air dry before being cut into strips.
The result? Biltong melts in your mouth and retains all the great flavours from the curing process; it also retains all the key nutrients such as protein, zinc, and Vitamin B-12.
What are the nutritional benefits of Biltong?
Biltong is a fantastic source of protein and brings with it a whole host of nutritional benefits. From professional athletes to followers of the Keto diet, more and more people are turning to Biltong as an alternative to protein shakes. Below we look at some of Biltong’s benefits:
- High in protein – when Biltong is slow dried, it loses 55% of its weight, which enhances its nutritional values and doubles the amount of protein per serving. A single 35g bag can contain almost half your recommended daily allowance – pretty impressive if you ask us!
- Rich in BCAAs – Beef Biltong is rich in Isoleucine, Leucine and Valine, branch chain amino acids that are important in the process of building muscle, decreasing muscle fatigue, and alleviating muscle soreness.
- Great Source of Vitamins B12 – Beef Biltong is a great source of vitamin B12, which helps make DNA and red blood cells.
- Contains creatine – Beef Biltong is an amazing source of creatine, which, as many gym-buffs know, helps the body to produce energy to help aid muscle growth.
Should I consider Beef Biltong instead of a protein shake or protein bar?
As Beef Biltong is high in natural protein and contains only natural ingredients, we would recommend replacing your favourite protein snack with it a couple of times a week. It’s available in a number of tasty flavours including BBQ, Chilli, Peri-Peri, Garlic and original so allows for plenty of variety if you get bored of the same flavours regularly.
The great thing about Biltong vs protein shakes and bars is that it’s completely natural and comes from high-quality grass-fed beef. Protein powders and bars, on the other hand, are completely processed and often contain sugars or artificial sweeteners to make them taste better.
Is Biltong tastier than my protein snacks?
Although we believe that Biltong tastes much better than any protein bar or powder it totally comes down to individual preferences. If you have a sweet tooth and love nothing more than biting in to a chocolate caramel flavoured protein bar after a workout, then Biltong might not be the snack for you. We still would recommend trying it though! If you enjoy more savoury post-gym snacks such as rice cakes and cottage cheese, we’re confident you’ll enjoy Biltong!
Biltong is a red meat, is it healthy?
Although Biltong is one of the healthier cured meat snacks available on the market, we still recommend only eating it a couple of times per week alongside a balanced and nutritious diet. You should still aim to consume ample amounts of protein from your main meals and use snacks such as Biltong as post-gym workout fuel or on days where you are struggling to hit your macronutrient goals.
Biltong is a great snack for a variety of diets such as Paleo, Keto and for those on weight loss journeys as it’s a great source of protein which helps to keep hunger at bay.
The bottom line
Protein is one of the most important macronutrients we consume. It’s important for fat loss, muscle growth, muscle retention and maintaining an optimal weight. Everyone’s protein needs are different, but when you eat foods high in protein it helps keep you fuller for longer, stopping snacking between meals. Beef Biltong contains 50g of protein per 100g and is much more natural than any other protein snack widely available in the supermarket. As with any food, certain types of Biltong may be high in salt and fat, and a higher intake of these types of Biltong may increase your risk of health complications. For the most part, Biltong is a completely healthy snack and can be enjoyed by many people. If you’re debating adding Beef Biltong to your gym bag, make sure you do it in moderation to maintain a healthy and balanced diet. Be warned though, once you try Biltong it will be hard to go back to protein snacks!
What are you waiting for? Try Biltong today.
